Priority Football

Priority Football

Mark Bartelstein

Priority Sports & Entertainment was founded in 1985, and in the 30+ years the agency has been in business, CEO Mark Bartelstein has earned a reputation for being innovative and forward thinking in his approach to representing professional athletes. The firm has established itself as an industry leader by developing core values of integrity, hard work, and a steadfast resolve to always put their clients first. Priority Sports has received consistent acclaim over the years by maintaining a company-wide entrepreneurial spirit that exists within each department – Basketball, Football, Marketing & PR, and the newly founded Coaches & Broadcasters division. This approach has laid the foundation in creating the culture throughout the history of Priority Sports & Entertainment and has led to constant and steady growth throughout the existence of the agency, from inception to today. The agency is widely regarded throughout the business and sports industries as the leading independently owned agency representing professional athletes and has consistently been ranked accordingly in countless national media outlets.

Based on his familiarity with the intricacies of the Collective Bargaining Agreements in both the NBA & the NFL, Mark has helped his clients secure many landmark contracts and is often asked to speak on his experience in these negotiations, as well as the journey that Priority Sports has taken to the top of the sports business world. Mark graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1984. He and his wife Sheri have four children (Josh, Morgan, Courtney, and Kirby) and reside in Highland Park, Illinois.

Kyle Dolan

Kyle Dolan is Priority’s Director of Football Operations and a Certified Contract Advisor. A licensed attorney, Kyle is relentless in serving clients throughout their careers. His legal background and work experience as an Associate at Latham & Watkins LLP, where he focused his practice on complex commercial transactions, have helped shape his resolute approach to contract negotiations. Kyle ensures that clients never go into a situation unprepared, as he heads Priority’s study of contract analytics and maintains a comprehensive database of all NFL contracts. He also takes pride in his knowledge of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement and devotes himself to providing creative solutions and candid advice for any situation that a client is facing. A native of Syracuse, New York, Kyle attended The Ohio State University, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He then received his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago, where he served as President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. He and his wife Allison reside in Lombard, Illinois, with their sons, Peter and Augustine and daughter, Mary Katherine.

Mike McCartney

Mike McCartney has been involved in college football and the NFL as a coach, scout and personnel executive for more than 25 years. As the Quarterbacks Coach and Assistant Recruiting Coordinator at Colorado from 1987 through the 1989 season, Mike helped his father, Head Coach Bill McCartney, turn Colorado into a national power before moving on to coach at North Carolina for the 1990 and 1991 seasons. Over the next 6 years, Mike worked as a College and Pro Scout for the Chicago Bears. In 1998, Mike joined the Philadelphia Eagles as their Director of Pro Personnel. During his tenure, Mike was a key contributor in transforming the Eagles from a 3-13 club to a team that was 2 games away from the Super Bowl. As Director of Football Operations for Priority Sports, Mike was the first top-level front-office executive in the NFL to leave the league, during the salary cap era, for a major football representation firm. Mike brings the perspective and contacts of an NFL Scout and Executive which is invaluable to Priority clients in preparation for the NFL Draft and the upcoming NFL season. Mike received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Colorado, and his Master’s in Sports Administration from North Carolina. He and his wife Jenni, reside in Downers Grove, Illinois, with their 3 sons, Nickolas, Justin & Brandon, and daughter Alexa.

Dominique Price

Dominique Price is an NFLPA certified agent with Priority Sports and Entertainment. As a former student-athlete and undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, Dominique has unique insight into the ins and outs of transitioning from a student athlete to a professional athlete and developing athletic talent to a meaningful career both on and off the field.

As a 4-year starter at strong safety for Northwestern University, Dominique developed a reputation as an intimidating force on the defense as well as a hardworking leader on the field and in the classroom. Dominique applies the same passion, work ethic, and commitment to excellence that led to his success on the field to his life after sports. Before joining Priority, Dominique practiced sports law and commercial litigation at one of the top law firms in the Midwest, providing specialized legal services for several Fortune 100 companies, earning him recognition on Super Lawyers Magazine's Rising Star list.

Dominique combines his wealth of knowledge and experience as a former athlete with a broad knowledge base in a variety of legal areas, to provide clients with comprehensive representation and personal service in their pursuit of a career in professional sports.

Rick Smith

As a partner, Rick Smith has played an integral role in the development of Priority Sports & Entertainment. Rick is involved in all aspects of client representation and business operations. Rick brings a unique analytical perspective to all areas of client representation. He is an expert in contract negotiations, and maintains a strong working relationship with every NFL general manager. As an attorney, Rick also reviews the legal issues inherent in all team, endorsement and personal contracts. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Rick received his Law Degree from Northwestern University. He and his wife Julie reside in Highland Park, Illinois, with their two children, Emily and Jared.

Kenny Zuckerman

Kenny Zuckerman is a veteran agent in the sports industry. He has been in the business for 29 years and is one of the most respected advisors in the game. As President of Athlete Representation and a partner at Priority Sports, he handles all football related issues pertaining to his clients. Kenny has negotiated hundreds of contracts and has successfully managed his new rookie clients through the rigors of the NFL Draft. In fact, Kenny has one of the best track records of helping his clients maximize their draft stock and get drafted higher than expected.

Additionally, Kenny has mastered the media and public relations to give his clients an edge on draft day. His NFL relationships are second to none. ESPN reporter Len Pasquarelli wrote that “Zuckerman is a former college football player and a longtime agent with deep ties and a fat rolodex.”

Most importantly, Kenny is always available for his clients. He answers his phone whenever he is not in a meeting or on a plane and returns calls as soon as possible. His hands on approach provides his clients a secure peace of mind. He is present at All-Star games, the combine and pro-day. He is a relentless worker who leaves no stone unturned. In the end, Kenny’s body-of-work, experience and reputation has elevated him to the top of his game.

He graduated from the University of Arizona, where he lettered and played wide receiver for the Wildcats. He is the founder & president of a non-profit youth tackle football organization in Los Angeles that brings players together from all walks of life. Kenny and his wife, Shani, live in Beverly Hills with their son, Reggie, and daughter, Mickie.